Animal-trap.



No. 771,383. PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. J. H. MORRIS.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. ze, 1904.

.No MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN H. MORRIS, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO CHARLES A.SWEET, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,383, dated October4, 1904.

Application filed April 28, 1904.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, haveinvented new and. useful lmprovements in Animal-Traps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to animal-traps, and is peculiarly adapted forcatching mice; and my object in producing suoli a trap is because it issimple and cheap in construction and reliable in practice.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings,- Figure 1 is a top plan viewdisclosing the same in a set position indicated in dotted lines when thetrap is sprung. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig-3 is alongitudinal side elevation. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of Fig. 1. Fig.5 is a detail view of a piece of sheet metal detached from Fig. 1. Fig.6 is a broken inverted plan View of Fig. 1.

I will further describe my invention by referring to correspondingnumerals on the drawings and specification.

'Io construct my trap, I first take a block of, wood 1. I then cut apear-shaped opening 2 flatwise through the block, asindicated. At therear or large end of said opening is a flanged disk or button 3, whichis made secure to the block 1 by a screw 4. Across the front end ofblock 1 is a piece of sheet metal 5 of the same dimension in width asthe thickness of the block. This piece of sheet metal is rigidly securedby rivets or screws to the end of block 1 and covers the open end of theslot 2. Said piece of sheet metal is provided with an upwardly-extendinglug 6 of about a quarter of an inch in width to about onefourth inch inheight. spring-wire 7 of sufficient length and give it one or more turnsaround the button 3. Then I bring the two ends forward and give them ahalf-turn, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, after which Igradually curve the two ends outward. I then abruptly curve the twoeXtreme ends 9, as indicated in dotted lines land more clearly shown atFigs. 2 and 3. I then provide a trigger 10, con- I then take a piece ofSerial No. 205.335. (No model.)

structed of thin metal, which conforms to the inside of the opening 2through the block. Said trigger is pivotally secured at 11 in the saidopening 2, which is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

To set the trap ready for catching a mouse or other small animal, theextended ends 9 in dotted lines are grasped between the finger and thumband are brought together and locked over the upwardly-projecting lug 6.It will now be observed that when the trap is set in this position theupwardly extreme end of the trigger 10 is immediately under the ends ofthe spring-wires 7, while the body of the trigger extends back throughthe opening 2 of the trap, as indicated at Fig. 2.

I have further provided bait-retaining bars 14 horizontally across therear end of the opening in the block; The object of these bars is tokeep the bait, such as a small piece of cheese or fresh meat, in theproper place to induce the mouse to press upon the trigger 10 in itseffort to nibble the bait.

To bait the trap` it is turned bottom side up, as indicated at theinverted plan view of Fig. 6. The bait is placed in between the bars andthe eXtreme rear end of the opening, when the plate 15, which ispivotally secured to the block at 17, is brought around from theposition indicated in dotted lines over the bait to the position shownin solid lines, which prevents the bait from falling out when the trapis being handled preparatory to placing it in position to catch ananimal.

The operation of the trap is as follows: The trap is first set, asindicated in solid lines at Fig. 1. The extreme upper end of the tongue2 delicately engages the two wires. The mouse is liable in its effort toget at the bait to place its fore feet on the broad or lower end of thetrigger l0. This will cause the trap to spring, when the mouse is caughtbetween the coils of the wires, as indicated at 8 of the dotted lines inFig. 1.

In order that the trigger may not rattle when the trap is set, I haveprovided a small pin or lug 16, which holds it in proper position, asshown.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as nevv, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

' 1. In a mouse or animal trap of the character described thecombination of a suitable block of Wood or body portion an openingthrough said block, a button or disk secured vto the upper face of theblock at the rear of said opening, a metallic plate, a projecting lugintegral to said plate secured to the front end of the block, said lugadapted to extend above the face of the block thereof, a Wire springmounted on said disk, having' laterallyextending ends, intermediatelocking portions over the opening in the block, the saidlaterally-extending ends adapted to be depressed to engagement with theprojecting lug, substantially as described.

2. In a mouse-trap of the character described, a suitable body portion,an opening through said portion, a disk and a spring mounted thereon, ametallic plate, a projecting lug integral thereto and adapted to beengaged by the ends of the Wire springs, a

trigger mounted in the opening of the block under the path of the saidsprings adapted to cause disengagement of the springs with the lug whendisturbed,su bstantially as described.

3. In a mouse or animal trap of a suitable block of Wood, and opening'through the block, a spring and spring-retaining disk mounted thereon, atrigger mounted in said opening, a metallic plate, a projecting lugintegral to the plate secured to one end of the block adapted to engageand disengage with the springs, a lug or pin projecting from the sideWalls of the opening in the block, bait-retaining bars at the rear ofthe opening, and a bait-retaining plate pivotall'y secured to the underside of the trap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

JOHN H. MORRIS.

Witnesses:

FRED L. SMITH, Gmo. HAULIsToN.

